BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 58

BANK NOTES.

The Waikouaiti. — Two Dunedin anglers Visited- the Waikouaiti^ at the end of last „-week, "and secured twenty fish, averaging 21b.- Th© take ' was made " with, the ininnow, with the solitary exception of ithe largest fellow, wlio was foolish enough to "foe deluded- into taking a worm which concealed a. hook, or perhaps a couple of hooks. The river was low and the wind' very high ; the consequence being that the surface of the water was very broken. The Molyneux (Stirling).— For th© past fortnight very little fishing has been done iiere. The river has been high and the wind ditto. On Monday, the 25th ult., Messrs J. Henderson and W. Gilroy tried the low reaches and landed 1 fish each, and Dn Wednesday, the 27th, Mr W. Gilroy landed 2 fish, l£lb each. On that day Mr Farquhar had 2 fish from the upper reaches, the .heaviest .of .which scaled 51b, and he also landed 3 perch from Mosley's Lagoon. Reports from up-country to-rj;y indicate that we may-€xpect a high river lor some days to Come. — " Eldrin."

The K&kanui. — The Oamara Mail says a Visiting reporter at the North Otago show found time to steal away to the Kalcanui and take out of the reaches of that river 23 mice trout. A newspaper man can turn his hand to almost anything, but he says the jweed growing in the river is a great obBtaele to successful fishing.— [lt's the first -time I ever. heard of a reporter being able •to attend a show for business purposes and b& able to get away nshing.— J. S.] - The Waipahi. — My regular correspondent, "J. R. S." writing from Arthurton on the 2nd inst., says: — The showery weather has kept the Waipahi in excellent fishing trim, mud some good baskets have been secured 'during the pa*t week. Mr T. Murray, Waipahi, secured the magnificent basket of 32 fish, weighing 49|lb. The above were- got ,witn the bare • fly ' on ' Friday last. Mr J. HocEings had 8 nice trout the other day, the -largest nearly 51b. They were lured by Green well's glory and light-winged Jessie. Amother gentleman, writing under th© name of "Stoddart," says: — I have taken the liberty of writing you this week without asking the consent of your local correspondent, who, I know, will not reprimand me for doing so. During the last two weeks the river has been in very, good fishing order, but the changeable weather kept the fish from feeding freely for the greater part of that time. ' However, I heard of one good "take," and had the pleasure of seeing the fish, Which' were in splendid condition, "take," which is a record one so far, fell to Mr T. Muray's rod on the 29th ult. It consisted of 32 fish weighing 49|lb. All the fish were taken with the fly (red spinner and Je3sie) on that part of the river between the" Arthurton Gorge and the bend at the old sheep dip. Othr anglers have been fairly successful also. [I am indebted to /'Stoddart" for his additional information concerning Mr Murray's take, and I am quite sure my local «orrespondent will join with me in my appreciation of "Stoddart's" Kindness. — J. S.] The Oreti.— Writing from Lumsden on the 2nd inst. "Angler" informs me that the river was in good order on Saturday, but the fish were not taking. On the day of writing the stream was -in flood. All wormers were getting a few fish. Some good trout have been taken by Mr Croad. among them one 61b. Mr Thomas jnade a fair basket, but "Angler" had not heard how many it consisted of. On the 50th .November "Messrs M'Math and Clark B'ot 24 and 8 respectively, the- former using the fly and the latter the worm. On Norember 27. he understands. Messrs Stevenson and M'Math fished the Waikaia for 18 and 11 fish respectively. Both used the fly. The Waitaki. — Fishing lately has been decidedly off, and anglers seem somewhat agitated to learn the cause of the slump. Some have disposed of the dearth of trout in the

river by affirming that the gam© is played out, and that the River Waitaki requires replenishing, while others say that the trout are outside feeding on something more savoury than the bait u*3d by the angler. However, there is something wrong, but our advice to those who are fond of the sport is not to be discouraged, but prove themselves to be true anglers by exercising a little of the virtue of Job.— Oamaru Mai].

Winchester, December 2. — Some welcome rain fell during the past week, without, however, materially affecting the rivers. The temperature showed extreme -variation. Locally, there have been few fishing. Langdon's figures are 192 trout weighing 1101b A visitor from Australia, fishing when favourable opportunities occurred throughout November, principally in the Waihi, brought in 563 trout, weighing 3261b, all taken with the fly. The larger rivers are in fishable order. — Winchester correspondent. The Opihi. — Two Timaru anglers, fishing in the Opihi on Saturday night, secured a very creditable haul, landing no les3 than 100 fish between them. Generally speaking sport was good from th© mouth of the river up to the back of Pleasant Point. — Christchurch Press, November 26.

There is, says the Timaru Herald, a very good mouth at the Opihi just now, and trout are- coming in in great numbers.

Matters at Clinton.— The Clinton correspondent of the Clutha Free Press writes on November 25 : — Fishing has been at a discount of late,, but Mr E. Tuffley bagged 38 nice fish up the Gorge last Thursday afternoon, and. that in a_ very short space of time.

A Trip South. — " Joker," writing on the 28th November, says : " Have put in a fortnight on the Puerua, but with very poor results. The weather having been very bad I was only able to get out a few times, and more often than not the river was not in fishing trim. However, the fish, though not large, were in fine condition, and gave plenty of sport, but it's rather a difficult stream to fish on account of the large amount of scrub, flax, etc., on the bank?. I then came on to Tapanui — been her© a week — weather very little better. Pomahaka almost always in flood, but have had some fairly good turns at the perch in the lagoons, to say nothing of the eels, causing broken rods,- lost tackle, and broken language. Had a few hours on the Flodden — result, a, few small trout." The Mimihau.— "W. P. S." writes: Our second competition was held on the 27tfi November. I did not hear the remit, bus the weather was good, and I exppct some capital baskets were e;ot. On the 28th Mr C. Moore (Wellington) Mr W. P. Smith had an afternoon on the Mimihau, and grassed 10 fish, weight 18£lb. Mr Moore is delighted with our stream for fly-jfishiii'g. Weather appears settled; water in grand order, and fish in fine condition.

The Waiau.— The Western Star of the 29th November says: The Waiau etill yields good sport. About 801b weight of fish was secured last week by Mr Thomas Burke, the result of one day out with rod and line. Other parties have been equally successful, but th© weather of late has not been of the best for angling-. - , A. Trip to "Puryis's," Waipahi— "Oh, the gallant fisher's life, it is the best of any !" So say I, when in company with an enthusiastic angler, I whip the Waipahi with all those conditions of weather and water favourable -to good sport and heavy creels; but when the only sound you hear when you open your ears and eyee after a _ comfortable night's repose under the hospitable roof of Pisca Lodge, nestling on the margin of that best of rivers, is the pattering of rain on its window panes and the roaring of the swollen stream, my friend suggests that under the blankets would suit better " Isaac Walton's " further eulogy of the life of an angler, " 'Tis full of comfort, void of strife, and 'tis beloved by many." The- partition between our sleeping apartments formed no barrier to our carrying on a free and easy conversation, and when the rain ceased and a gleam of sunshine shot across my room, knowing my companion's eagerness for the fray, I shouted, ' Bravo ! Do you see the sun is shining? " The response came quick, "Ah, yes! I have just pulled the blind aside, and had a look; it is a lovely morning." Rather incredulous, I made a long arm and a long neck, and looking out the window thought I must be dreaming — the entire landscape: hills, fields, hedges, trees, all covered with snow, white as in midwinter. My heart sank, anl I sank, too, down into the comfortable bed, and found myself aim opt instinctively repeating Isaac's lines, "'Tis full of comfort." I did not know what my companion might think about fishine in the snow. I knew he was enthusiastic enough to defy the elements that night we arrived, and in the company of two brave ladies and our host he went forth conquering and to conquer, and after baskoting four trout returned as wet as if he had been besporting himself with his speckled beauties in their native element. As to the appearance of his lady companions on their return, I shall say nothing, nor did I ask them their opinion of Walton's eulogy of angling. On this occasion they had the "angling," and I had the "com-; fort." The melting of the snow made the j river unfishable, and, somewhat disgusted, my companion got across Purvis's favourite hack, and after a perilous journey of seven miles in a drenching rain, arrived in Pukerau, en route for Dunedin. Lsaving my companion, I availed myself of the veiy kind "invitation of a friend to spend a few days at his homestead in the Popotunoa Gorge, near to the upper waters of the Waipahi. As the weather cleared on the Monday morning, and the river seemed in fair condition, I plied the rod and line from th© Popotunoa bridge upwards, and as this portion of the Waipahi has a name for large trout, I expected large fish as a result of my operations. The first one I caught was about which I returned to the water. The next gave fair play, but after getting it to grass I discovered that it was one of a number of large male rainbow trout that had been transferred from the Clinton hatchery about a week before. A little higher up the river I saw a fi.=h rise, and putting on a fine fly cast with the red spinner. It seized the tempting lure, »nd after some splendid runs with the dash of a new-run salmon, a game tussel ended by its being brought to bank — a splendid female trout, weighing about 51b; a _ perfect beauty in prime condition. Soon alter, in the pool immediately above, I hooked a heavy fish with the minnow, which, after some dashing runs and several leaps clean out of the water, parted company with my horn minnow in his jaw. Even witn such a mouthful I feel confident it did not feel more uncomfortable and annoyed than did I when my rod sprung back minus both fish and minnow. My day's sport ended with hooking another domesticated rainbow trout, which for the first time ia bis life rea-

lised the diffi rence between .seizing a i^iece of sheep's liver m the Clinton pond--' and an artificial minnow in the Waipahi. Tuesday kept up the record for rain, preventing mine hosts from attending to their flocks and herds, and with 'waterproofs buttoned close and a determination to make the best of it, we three were soon on the river bank. The water hid risen considerably during the night, and was much discoloured, so that there was nothing for it but to try spinning the minnow. A bright whitebait minnow that one of my companions was spinning wasi too tempting for a rue-pounder, who seized it greedily, and was successfully played and landed before we were a quarter of an hour on the stream — the mly reward for a day's nshing by three expert anglcis on the Uprc-r Waipalii ! After such an experience who would not be an angler, and sing with Walton : Other joys are but toys, Only this lawful is ; For our skill breeds none ill, But content and pleasure. — fl thank my contributor very heartily for his article. — J.S.]

Wyndham Anglers' Second Competition.— Th© Wyndham Anglers' Society's second competition for the season took place on Wednesday laei. The conditions were: Bare fly ; hours, 8 till 5 ; any stream. Weigh-in at Farmers' Club Horel at 9 p.m. The prizes were— First, a rod (gift of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen) ; second, a basket (gift of fehe society) ; third, a reel (gift of Mr A. Cunningham). There were 14 entrants, the half of whom weighed :u their takes in the presence of an interested public. Th© streams were on the high side, but the wafer was of a gpad colour. All competitors -but -one (Rankm) fished the Mimihau. The fish took well at "intervals. Taken all round, anglers say, the flay was not very favourable. Some of the competitors were unfortunate in meeting with mishaps, one breaking his rod more than once. However, there were some very creditable takes, a^ will be seen en reference to the details, as under: — let. J. Tough. 18 fish, 231b 14oz; 2nd, D. F. Bremuer. 19 fish. 221b 14oz ; 3rd, James Mitchell, 13 fish, 19£lb; and J. A. Dodd, 14 fish, 18J.lb: M. M'Auliffe, 27 fish, 16j,1b; J. Greenshields. 8 fiah, 1221b; A. Rankiu, 8 fish. 121b lOcz. There were 107 fish caught, of the total weight of 1261b lOoz.

" Square Milos of Solid Fish."— HobBon'i, Bay just now fairly swarms with fish (says the. Age), principally in the shape of pilchards- and young barracouta. It is hardly possible to conceive of animal existence in such incalculable quantity. The shoals which are iavaolng oiu- harbour phores may perhaps be be>t described as square miles of solid fisli. Tons of fish are daily — or, r*ther, nightly — laken from the water, without causing any perceptible diminution of the number remaining" in the water. At night the pilchards, pursued by their rapacious enemy, the barracouta, take refuge as close in shore as it is possible to get. Bare-legged people, adult and juvenile, wad© a few yards out, and, dipping pails, baskets, "flat boards, and even their hands only, into the water, throw fish on to the beach. The piers at South Melbourne aud St. Kilda are lined nightly with crowds, of peoplp, who haul out fish as fast as they can cast their Knee. The waate i? necpssarily great, not a fiftieth .part of the haul being used. Vacant allotments close to the beach at Albert Park, "and all the region round about," fairly glisten after dirk with the phosphorenc© of putrefying fWi.

"Bank of Groprr off Timarn. — Local fishermen are ?etti«y fome rrood hauls just now out at "Groper Ground." Yesterday, after a, few hours' nshing, a fisherman's boat returned laden with 19 large grop©r, some of them being in particularly good condition. — Timaru Post. November 26.

Reading Belwrpn the Lines. — "Those strings." said the fiist fish, "hanging down in the water with worms on the end of them mean danger " "How do you know?" asked the other. "Oh ! I can read between the lines."

Anglers are complaining of the poorness of sport in the Waitaki.

Trout poaching is said to be prevalent in the Waimate Creek.